Gauntlet-tossing has always been a popular sport in the auto industry, but in the struggle to out-do the competition in burgeoning effort to supply demanding customers with more power it's become quite endemic.
The latest example involves the Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG that will debut at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show, as the Stuttgart firm stakes its claim for primacy in the high-performance luxury SUV category.
So there will be no mistaking its intent with the ML 63 AMG, Mercedes-Benz says "the new top-of-the-range model in the M-Class goes straight to the top of the competitive lineup with its 510-hp AMG 6.3-litre V-8. This new off-roader developed by Mercedes-AMG stands for sportiness and dynamism at the highest level, while its exclusive appointments meet even the most demanding requirements."
The ML 63 AMG will debut at the Frankfurt motor show in mid-September, and go on sale in the spring of 2006. Pricing is not yet known, but expect it to be steep, since Mercedes-Benz Canada likes to put a significant surcharge on its AMG models.
Enough buyers probably won't care about that, however, since it will deliver them a 6.3-litre V-8 that puts out about 570 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm along with the 510 hp at 6,800 rpm. Mercedes likes to call this engine "the powerful heart of a high-performance athlete," which is also "the world's most powerful naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine in regular production."
Compared to the preceding ML 55 AMG, the new ML 63 AMG generates 46 percent more horsepower and 23 percent more torque.
As a result of this, the AMG 6.3-litre V-8 "provides the performance levels of a sports car, with acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds."
In the view of the Stuttgart engineers responsible for this powertrain, this "unique combination of a high engine speed concept and a large displacement enables the best of both worlds to be achieved: outstanding liveliness accompanied by powerful torque from low engine speeds. The driver of the ML 63 AMG experiences the decidedly sporty character of the new AMG V-8 in the form of great agility and dynamic responsiveness in all engine speed ranges."
Power goes to the wheels through an AMG Speedshift 7G-Tronic automatic transmission, with a Direct Select shift lever mounted on the steering wheel. Three shift modes specially configured for the sporty performance characteristics of the AMG V-8 "ensure that the power is used to best effect."
The driver selects "S" (Sport), "C" (Comfort) and "M" (Manual) by using a switch in the centre console, and each differ in their gearshift characteristics and speed.
For particularly aggressive driving, the seven gears can be changed using the gearshift buttons on the AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel.
The permanent four-wheel drive of the ML 63 AMG is also "decidedly sporty in nature," says Mercedes. "In the interests of the best possible agility and performance on curves, the generous power of the AMG V-8 is distributed to the front and rear axles on a 40:60 basis. A specially strengthened drive train ensures an optimal power transfer and the reliability typical of a Mercedes."
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| Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG (Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG) |
So there will be no mistaking its intent with the ML 63 AMG, Mercedes-Benz says "the new top-of-the-range model in the M-Class goes straight to the top of the competitive lineup with its 510-hp AMG 6.3-litre V-8. This new off-roader developed by Mercedes-AMG stands for sportiness and dynamism at the highest level, while its exclusive appointments meet even the most demanding requirements."
The ML 63 AMG will debut at the Frankfurt motor show in mid-September, and go on sale in the spring of 2006. Pricing is not yet known, but expect it to be steep, since Mercedes-Benz Canada likes to put a significant surcharge on its AMG models.
 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG (Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG) |
Compared to the preceding ML 55 AMG, the new ML 63 AMG generates 46 percent more horsepower and 23 percent more torque.
As a result of this, the AMG 6.3-litre V-8 "provides the performance levels of a sports car, with acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds."
In the view of the Stuttgart engineers responsible for this powertrain, this "unique combination of a high engine speed concept and a large displacement enables the best of both worlds to be achieved: outstanding liveliness accompanied by powerful torque from low engine speeds. The driver of the ML 63 AMG experiences the decidedly sporty character of the new AMG V-8 in the form of great agility and dynamic responsiveness in all engine speed ranges."
 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG (Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG) |
The driver selects "S" (Sport), "C" (Comfort) and "M" (Manual) by using a switch in the centre console, and each differ in their gearshift characteristics and speed.
For particularly aggressive driving, the seven gears can be changed using the gearshift buttons on the AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel.
The permanent four-wheel drive of the ML 63 AMG is also "decidedly sporty in nature," says Mercedes. "In the interests of the best possible agility and performance on curves, the generous power of the AMG V-8 is distributed to the front and rear axles on a 40:60 basis. A specially strengthened drive train ensures an optimal power transfer and the reliability typical of a Mercedes."